Faith-Based Groups Seek Removal Of Remaining Barriers to Federal Funding, Praise HUD's Support

摘要

Faith-based organizations urged Congress to remove remaining barriers to their participation in federally funded programs and commended HUD for its role in implementing the president's 2001 faith-based initiative during a June 14 hearing by the House Government Reform Subcommittee on Federalism and the Census. Faith-based witnesses also supported legislation (H.R. 1054) to authorize the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, which was created by executive order in 2001. In addition to being codified, the office should be expanded to provide guidance and assistance that smaller faith- and community-based organizations need to pursue federal assistance, according to Mark Howard, general counsel of World Vision, an international Christian relief and development organization.